136. K
NOW THE
F
EATURES
Y
OU
N
EED
B
EFORE
Y
OU
S
HOP
If you’re about to sink some money into a new electronic item, know what features you actually need before even beginning to shop. List exactly what you’re looking for before you even start looking at research materials. This is much the same psychology as preparing a shopping list before you go to the grocery store. It keeps you focused on exactly what you need instead of being distracted by something else that might come along. Before you even begin to research your purchase, know exactly what you want.
137. A
VOID THE
“F
EATURE
C
REEP
”
When you do begin to research your purchase or shop around, you’ll often discover nifty features that show up in the higher-end models (often thanks to promotional materials, the overtures of a clever in-store salesperson, or a gadget-loving friend who extols the virtue of some minor, expensive, and nonessential feature). Ignore them. These neat features are not features you need, they’re merely features you’re being lured into wanting on the spur of the moment. Look for the core features you’re interested in and let the rest steal the money from someone else’s wallet.
138. S
HOP
A
ROUND
, B
OTH
O
NLINE AND
O
FF
If you’re being patient about your purchase, you’ll have plenty of time to shop around very carefully for the item. Look at retailers both online and offline and find the best prices, the best return policies, and the best assistance for questions that you may have about the item. Quite often, online retailers have better prices, but offline brick-and-mortar retailers can have better service and return policies, so consider the value of service and return policies in your purchase. If an item would be difficult to return or may require some service or assistance to install, consider that a valuable premium for buying the item in a store, even if the price is a bit higher. The key is to find the best overall value for your dollar, and that may be online in some situations and offline in others, depending on what you are trying to purchase.
139. L
OOK
A
T
R
EFURBISHED
M
ODELS
Many stores offer refurbished models—items that were originally sold and then returned with a minor defect that has now been repaired. These items are often as good as new, but are sold at a discounted price. Do some research into refurbished models available for the item you’re looking for. Quite often, you can find refurbished models with the same warranties and benefits as buying new but with a significant discount on the purchase price. If you don’t know where to begin, ask. A timely question can often save you money.
140. A
SK ABOUT
R
ETAIL
R
ETURNS OR
O
PEN
-B
OX
I
TEMS
Many shoppers will buy an item, take it home, rip open the box, then discover that it’s not exactly what they wanted or that it’s not compatible with their other equipment. They return it to the store and get their refund, but then the store is often left holding a perfectly new item in a beat-up box, which they’re obligated to sell at a discount. If you’re about to buy an item in a store, ask about retail returns or open-box items, particularly if what you’re looking at isn’t the latest and greatest version of the item. You’ll often be surprised at how much of a discount you can get on a good-as-new item in a cardboard box with a torn flap.
141. C
HECK FOR
D
ISCONTINUED
/F
LOOR
M
ODELS
Another way to save on electronics is to check out discontinued models. Many stores will steeply discount brand-new products simply because a product line is being discontinued by the manufacturer, often for reasons that have very little to do with the quality of the item. You can also often find a steep discount in retail stores by buying floor items—those that sat out in the store on display for customers to look at. If you’re certain of your feature list and find items in either of these categories that match the features you want, don’t hesitate to jump on board, especially if the warranty on the item remains valid (be sure to ask).
142. I
F
Y
OU
G
ET A
R
EBATE
F
ORM
, F
ILL
I
T
O
UT
I
MMEDIATELY
It’s very easy to get lured in by a stellar price on an electronics item, only to discover that the low price is only that low due to a rebate. Retailers and manufacturers love to use the rebate as a method to make a price appear lower than it really is, because shoppers sometimes fail to send in their rebate form. Quite often, it’s because they simply forget about it. It’s another little task to do, one that’s easy to toss in a clutter attractor and forget about. The solution to that problem is simple: Fill out that rebate form as soon as you can, even in the car before you leave the store. Make it your goal to get it in the mail by the end of the day or else the likelihood that you’ll forget about that money will vastly increase, and a rebate form discovered after the expiration date is not worth anything at all.
143. S
END IN THE
R
EGISTRATION
F
ORM
I
MMEDIATELY
—B
UT
D
ON
’T F
ILL
I
T
O
UT
C
OMPLETELY
Most electronics products (and many other products) include a registration form that they ask you to send in. Quite often, you’re required to send it in to activate the warranty, and it also gives the manufacturer your contact information so they can notify you of product recalls or other important information about your product. However, there’s a trick—the form usually includes the basics (your name and address and the product type), but it also often includes a lot of other unnecessary stuff, like questions about your buying preferences and other products you’re interested in, for the sole purpose of filling your mailbox with targeted junk mail. Only fill in your name, address, and product identification unless you’re specifically required to fill in more to get the warranty, but get that card sent in, as that warranty and other information about the model can be vital.
144. K
EEP
Y
OUR
W
ARRANTY AND
R
ECEIPTS
Inevitably, you’ll buy an electronic item and it will break. When that happens, it’s essential that you have the warranty on hand to know who to contact in order to fix the problem. When you do that, you’ll also need to demonstrate when and where you purchased the item. The best way to do that is to keep files on every significant item you buy. Keep a small filing box containing a folder for each major purchase, and within each folder keep the product manual, a copy of the warranty, and the receipt. Whenever you buy a new item, add a new folder to the box with that material inside. That way, when a problem occurs, you’ll have all the paperwork you need to take care of the problem in one easy-to-find place.
145. K
EEP
I
T
C
LEAN AND
M
INIMIZE THE
D
UST
One of the biggest dangers to home electronics is dust and dirt. Dust is full of small amounts of metal, and home electronics use metal to store information and transmit data. Thus, it’s unsurprising that dust buildup is one of the most common reasons for electronic failure. You can fight that hazard and extend the life of your equipment by keeping it clean and dusting it regularly. If you have a home computer, carefully open the case on occasion and use compressed air to blow out any dust that’s built up inside. With other devices, keep the external areas clean and make sure no dust is building up near any ventilation areas, and also make sure the device has plenty of ventilation space (for example, don’t move the vents up against a wall). Simple moves like these can vastly extend the life of your home electronics.
146. U
SE A
S
URGE
P
ROTECTOR
Most homes receive unexpected electrical surges occasionally, and these surges can damage home electronic devices if the devices are not properly protected. Invest in a surge protector for your most expensive items, preferably one with a switch that you can easily access. This surge protector will prevent your electronics from being damaged during an electrical surge, plus if you have a switch that’s accessible, you can utilize it to cut power to all of your electronic devices before you go on a trip, potentially saving you money on energy use as well. A good surge protector is well worth the money. It only takes one prevented surge to make your investment pay off.
147. R
EAD THE
M
ANUAL
C
AREFULLY
, E
SPECIALLY ON
R
ECHARGEABLE
I
TEMS
Whenever you open up a new electronic item, it’s well worth the time to give the manual a reading, as there may be less obvious tweaks and settings that can maximize the value and usefulness of the product. Reading the manual is particularly important when it comes to any device that uses an internal rechargeable battery, as such devices often have different optimal ways to charge the battery in order to extend its life. Some devices last longer if completely discharged (used until there is no more juice), while others are better off being charged as often as possible and not allowed to run down to minimal energy. Know what works best for your device and take the steps to ensure a long and healthy lifetime for your new equipment.
148. U
SE
R
ECHARGEABLE
B
ATTERIES
Rechargeable batteries have come a long way since the nearly unusable battery chargers of a generation ago. Today, top-quality rechargeable batteries, such as the Eneloop batteries available from G
E
and Sanyo, don’t become weaker after each charge and hold a charge for a very long time, maintaining 85 percent of their charge after a year of sitting on a shelf. An investment in a top-quality battery charger and a sufficient number of rechargeable batteries can keep your home equipped with ample batteries to keep your electronic devices going while saving you significant money over the long haul.
C
HEAP
T
ACTIC
$
FOR
E
NERGY
U
SE
149 Install a Programmable Thermostat
150 Use L
ED
Bulbs in Certain Places
151 Put Your Home Electronics on a Switch-Based Power Source
152 Turn Off Lights You’re Not Using
153 Unplug Electrical Devices You’re Not Using
154 Put All Device Chargers on One Power Strip
155 Turn Down Your Water Heater
156 Insulate Your Water Heater
157 Install Low-Flow Showerheads
160 Adjust Your Home’s Temperature Seasonally
161 Use Heavy Drapes and Blinds
162 Open and Close the Blinds/Curtains in Tune with the Weather
163 Use the “Hibernate” Mode on Your Computer
166 Install Ceiling Fans in Every Room You Spend Time In
167 Do an Insulation Inspection
168 Do Proper Maintenance on Your Furnace and Air-Conditioning Unit
149. I
NSTALL A
P
ROGRAMMABLE
T
HERMOSTAT
A programmable thermostat allows you to automatically raise and lower the temperature in your home at certain times of the day. For example, it can be set to raise the temperature in your house by 10 degrees while you’re at work, keeping your air conditioner from running all day, then cooling the house all at once in the early evening just before you arrive home. Instead of just kicking on and off all day, burning energy, your air conditioner would just run for one somewhat longer session in the early evening, saving you significant energy. The reverse would be true with your furnace in cold weather. Your home temperature would automatically drop during the day, warming up again just before you arrive home. You can accomplish this automatically by installing a programmable thermostat in your home, available at your local hardware store for a fairly small price. You can often earn back the cost of the thermostat in just a year due to the energy savings.
150. U
SE
L
ED
B
ULBS IN
C
ERTAIN
P
LACES
Compact fluorescent lamp bulbs (C
FL
s) are currently all the rage for saving energy in your home, but they have their disadvantages— warm-up time, cold light, and cleanup challenges are among the common complaints. L
ED
(light-emitting diode) bulbs, on the other hand, use very little energy and provide directional light (like a flashlight), perfect for lighting needs in small spaces, like closets. One way to get the energy use advantage of C
FL
s and L
ED
s without some of the disadvantages is by using a mix of bulbs in your home. Try a three-tiered lighting strategy: normal incandescent for general family areas, C
FL
s for hall lighting and infrequently used spaces, and L
ED
s for closet lighting, with a shift toward more L
ED
s as the technology improves. This will reduce energy use throughout your home and also increase the lifespan of most of your installed bulbs.